Page 71 of Collateral Claim

“Hi, Doc,” I mock his pleasant voice. “A second ago, you criticized me for showing her a good time. Hypocrite.”

“Join us,” Philip says, and the twins snicker.

“Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be, huh?” I wipe my mouth and toss the napkin onto the plate.

“Good morning,” she says when she reaches the table. Her hair is wet and pulled up into a bun, her cheeks are rosy, and she blushes when she looks at me.

Marquis tilts his head toward her, and Scarlett kisses him on the cheek. She grabs his wrist and checks her watch, probably taking his pulse. “How is my very naughty patient this morning?”

“Not as naughty as the doctor, I hear.”

Scarlett drops his wrist, her face burning now. Mouth agape, she looks at me accusingly.

I lift my hands in surrender. “I don’t eat and tell.”

“It’s kiss and tell,” she corrects me.

“Yeah, but that’s not all I did.” Fuck. Those blushing cheeks make it easy to mess with her. “You walked right into that one.”

The chair next to mine is vacant. I pat it. “Sit.”

Scarlett barks.

I laugh. “If you haven’t earned a seat at the table yet, you certainly have now.”

Scarlett barks again.

Connor claps, then picks up her empty plate. “What can I get you to eat, Doc?”

“Whatever Endo ate.”

Silence.

Marquis laughs first.

I join him. Who knew a preppy princess could joke at her own expense?

Scarlett winks. “Eggs and some cheese, please. Thank you, Connor.”

Conner serves her the food.

“Drink?” I ask.

“A mimosa?”

Connor frowns. “Don’t know what that is.”

“Orange juice and champagne.”

He pours orange juice into one glass and champagne in another and passes them to her.

Scarlett combines the two and sips. “Mmmm. Nice.”

“Ew,” Connor says.

“I’ll have one,” Philip says.

“All around,” I say. Half an hour later, we’re drinking mimosas and making shopping plans because, as it turns out, back at her house, Scarlett threw her clothes into the suitcase, not caring about packing well. She was preoccupied with planning her escape via horseback.